Toaster



Patented Feb. s, 193e AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates in general to bread toasters, and has moreparticular reference to toasters which may be set for a predeterminedperiod' of time to toast the bread to the desired degree of crispness.While the invention is illustrated as embodied in a toaster, it will bemanifest that it may be adapted for use in various types of electricalcooking apparatus aswell,

A principal object of the invention is the provision of an electrictoaster having a control member which may be set to operate after apredetermined time'and which will, at the end of such time, cause thecurrent passing through the heating elements to be substantially reducedto prevent damage, such as burning out the elements, should the mainswitch be inadvertently left on, and at the same time not have theapparatus cool oil' in the interim between toasting operations as itwould do if the supply of current were completely shut oil'.

Another important object of the invention is the provision in such atoaster of additional mechanism actuated by the control mechanism toshift the bread or other article out of the heating zone at the end of'the predetermined time.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the drawing, discloses a preferred embodimentthereof.

On the drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of aV toaster embodying my invention,partly in section, and

'showing the mechanism in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the mechanism in a diierentposition;

Fig. 3 is a detail end elevation; land Fig. 4 is a detail side elevationof themain switch control button.

,Referring to the drawing, reference character y Il indicates a hollowbase member upon which is mounted in any suitable manner a cover orcasing I2 which is open at the right end (Figs. l and 2), and for themajor portion of the top thereof.

A bread carrying frame or rack I3, having a cover part I4, is pivoted tothe base I I at i5, and when in its closed position (Fig. l) completelylls the end and top openings in the casing I2. This bread rack I3further comprises a U-shaped frame I6, secured to the cover part I4 inany suitable manner, to each side of which is attached a wire retainingmember I1, and a handle f' A plurality of pairs of wire retainingmemizerc -the heating elements 2I.

(Cl. B19-19) may be provided, depending on the number ofl slices ofbreadit is desired to accommodate. g

Secured to the base II in any suitable manner are a plurality of spacedframe members I9, each of which supports a set of 'well known heatingelements 2| which are electrically connected to positive and negativeterminals 22 and 23, respectively. The spacing of these heating elementsis t'il ` such that the pairs of wire retaining members I1 :vill bepositioned between them, respectively, in .lo

the usual manner when the bread carryingrackl I3 assumes the position ofFig. 1.

The main positive line 24 and negative line 25 are brought in through asuitable opening in the basell by an electrical cord (not shown) 15 inthe usual manner,.with the negative line 25 being directly connected tothe terminal 23 of The main switch 26 is connected at one side to thepositive line 24 and at the other side to a resistance coil 21 which 20is secured to the under side of the base I I in any suitable manner. Themain switch 26 is urged into closed position by a tension spring 28 andis adapted to be opened and held in such position by a crank rod 29which is controlled from 25 the exterior of the base II by a suitableknob 3I. The other end of the resistance coil 21 is connected ,to theterminal 22 of the heating elements 2l, at which point an auxiliaryswitch element 32 is also electrically connected. 30

The switch element 32 is normally urged into open or upward position bya tension spring 33. A stationary auxiliary switch element 34 is sopositioned as to co-operate with the element 32 when the latter isforced into its lowermost posi- 35 tion, as will be later described, andis in turn connected to a continuation 35 of the main positive line 24.l I

Guided for vertical sliding movement on a rod 36 which is secured to thetop of the casing l2 40 at one end and to the base II at the other, inany desired manner, is an actuating bar 31, the lower end 38 of whichextends through a suitable aperture in the base II and is adapted tocooperate with the free end of the auxiliary switch element 32. Securedto the actuating bar 31 adjacent its lower end is a horizontallyextending stud or shoulder member 39 which is adapted to (zo-operatewith the free end of the lower part of the U-shaped frame IB in a mannerand for a purpose to be later described.

Attits upper end the actuating bar 31 has a horizontal extension 4Iwhich is adapted to cooperate with and be actuated by the upperhorifzffntally projecting end of a vertical piston rod inoperativeposition and allow said switch to be opened. v

2. In a cooking apparatus having a heating element, a timing mechanismincluding a member adapted to be initially set and then returned slowlyfor a portion of its travel and rapidly for the last part of itstravel,- a oontrol'lever normally maintained in inoperative position bysaid member, a switch adapted to be closed byl said lever when thelatter is released by said member in the-initial setting of' said timingmechanism to increase the supply of current to said heating element, anda bread carrier normally in inoperative position and adapted to be movedin the last portion o! its return movement imparting ,a sharp blow tosaid control lever to .move said bread carrier into inoperative positionand allow said switch tobe opened to reduce the supply of current tosaid heating element.

AUGUST c. PURPURA.

'manually into operative position, said member

